The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru PHOTO: TWITTER/NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have said they will strengthen the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act to accelerate local capacity development and boost employment.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru and the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, stated this yesterday in Port Harcourt during the launch of Aveon Offshore’s six manifolds.

The NNPC boss expressed joy that the fabrication and load-out of the firm’s equipment, which include six manifolds with associated suction piles with various subsea tree-frame elements of about 40 per cent SPS scope, were fabricated by a local sub-contractor.

He added that the May 18, 2017 Executive Order 003 on ‘promotion of the use of Made-in-Nigeria goods’, signed by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in his capacity as Acting President, would further strengthen the NOGICD Act as the construction of the SPS module for Egina project has shown.

Baru said: “As the fabrication and load-out of the subsea structures of the Egina SPS module were executed by a fully indigenous Nigerian-owned company, this event, among others, testifies that our race to first oil from Egina field by last quarter of 2018 is guaranteed.

“By this feat, we have re-affirmed our commitment to the Nigerian Content Act. We celebrate here a clear demonstration of growing efficacy of the Nigerian Content Act.”

“On our part, NNPC is strongly committed to the successful implementation of all the provisions of the Act to improve and accelerate local capacity development in all our projects.”

Similarly, the NCDMB boss lauded the achievement, stating that since the enactment of NOGICD Act in 2010, the Egina has provided opportunities for Nigerian companies to demonstrate their capacity and maturity.

He said: “With the stride, Aveon can be counted among the heavy fabrication yards in the country with fabrication capacity of 10,000 tonnage yearly and staff strength of over 600.

“In support of investment like this, the board will soon embark on the categorisation of fabrication yards and other major services in companies for specific work scope in a way that will facilitate contract opportunities.

He, therefore, gave the assurance that the measures would enhance transparency and further boost investors’ confidence and shorten contracting cycle.